Zoe Saldana and Channing Tatum to Voice Book of Life

On the heels of a slight release date change yesterday, director Jorge R. Gutierrez’s Book of Life has found its leading voice talents. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Christina Applegate, Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana and Channing Tatum are set to star in the October 17, 2014 release.

Guillermo del Toro is producing the animated film, which has been described as being an action-packed, fully CG-animated picture, with a Romeo and Juliet style love story set against a Mexican “Day of the Dead” backdrop. It represents the first time in almost twenty years — since 1993’s Cronos — that del Toro has collaborated on a feature project set in Mexico. Music is also said to be an integral to the story; the film will feature an international roster of A-list recording artists performing new songs as well as re-imagined iconic songs.

Applegate, who will soon return as Veronica Corningstone in Adam McKay’s Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, previously lent her voice to animated features like Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and both Alvin and the Chipmunks sequels. Tatum, likewise, is set to voice Superman in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The LEGO Movie while Luna and Saldana are both making Book of Life their first big screen animated feature.